MXPA97005615A - Device to distribute tickets and similar items - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus for distributing items such as tickets, cards and similar items comprising: a. a cabinet that has a front and a back, b. a module for distributing articles within said cabinet, said module for distributing articles includes at least one assembly for distributing articles and a support platform, each assembly for distributing articles comprises: i. a base, ii. a frame for containing a plurality of items to be distributed in a stack, iii. a hinge for hingedly mounting said frame on said support platform for movement from a vertical position to a non-vertical position, iv. a door to receive articles from that frame and that allows only one article at a time to pass and v. a transport mechanism below said frame for transporting articles from said frame to said door, said transport mechanism comprising a toothed blade, a gear and rack, a reversible motor, a first sliding element slidably mounted on said base and a second sliding element slidably mounted on said base, said toothed blade is mounted rotatably on said first sliding element, said gear is stationary mounted on said second sliding element, said toothed blade is mounted in a rotatable manner to said second sliding element by a joint and said Reversible motor is mounted fixedly on said base, and vi. an insurance mechanism to secure the frame in the vertical position

Description

DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING TICKETS AND SIMILAR ITEMS BACKGROUND PE THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for distributing articles and more in particular to an apparatus for distributing items such as tickets, cards and the like. The invention is particularly suitable for use with respect to the distribution of lottery tickets of the tabbed type, however, it should be understood that the invention is not limited exclusively to distribute lottery tickets of the tabbed type, but can be used for distribute other types of tickets as well as other types of items such as cards and similar items.

In U.S. Patent No. 3,790,161 to K.E. Ericsson presents an apparatus for feeding sheets, cards, bank notes and the like from a stack, the apparatus comprises a rotating roll that comes in contact with the sheet, card or bank note at the bottom of the stack, another roll spaced from and of preferably slightly above the first roll and a band having a rough covering and arranged in such a way between the two rolls so as to extend within a plane tangent to the peripheries of the rolls.

In the United States Patent number 5,018,614 for W.D.K. Ruc ert presents a ticket selling machine where the external frame encloses an interior panel that separates an apparatus to receive money and an apparatus to distribute tickets. The device to receive money triggers an internal lever after the insertion of the correct money. This internal lever is released from a toothed platform that is connected by an arrow to an external manual lever. The traction of the external manual lever after the insertion of the correct money rotates multiple gears which causes a cam to act to open a ticket retainer door. In addition, the gears are connected to a cylindrical rear roller that rotates a pair of latex bands mounted around the rear roller and a front cylindrical roller mounted on a idler cam. A weight on the tickets causes a frictional pressure to be exerted on the ticket by means of the rotating bands and thus allows the bands to move a single ticket under an elevated exit door.

In another type of apparatus known for distributing tickets, the tickets are arranged in a stack and moved from the stack within a door by a rotatably mounted cogwheel placed below the stack.

In the United States Patent number 4,704,518 for F.A. Brumm et al. an apparatus for printing and issuing tickets is presented having a circular ticket guide in which a transmission cylinder is arranged to selectively rotate in a forward or backward direction. A ticket cartridge feeds a blank ticket into the ticket guide in the forward direction and the cylinder rotates, driving the ticket in the forward or backward direction to execute a series of steps in the process involved in issuing the ticket written. The tickets are stacked on the cartridge obliquely on the edge and are retained in the package configuration at the lower end of the cartridge by means of a gravity-driven ticket retainer. Arranged in an arched sequence adjacent to the ticket guide in the forward direction are the printing and reading apparatuses, a sloping confinement opening and an inclined expedition opening. A ticket is fed from the hopper in the forward direction and the transmission cylinder is rotated to carry the ticket through the printing and reading apparatus where the information is written and verified on the ticket. The transmission cylinder continues to rotate in the forward direction, taking the ticket through the enclosure and then the expedition opening. The transmission cylinder is then returned, first offering the ticket through the issuing opening and then, if the ticket is not manually removed from the opening, the transmission cylinder is rotated to feed the ticket within a confinement to through the opening of confinement.

In U.S. Patent No. 4,716,799 to D. Hartmann, an automatic ticket dispensing machine and a method for operating it to automatically adjust itself to the size of the tickets that are distributed are presented. A strip of tickets is fed forward with a mechanism of advance through an optical sensor that detects the perforations between the tickets. The optical sensor is coupled to a controller that controls the feed mechanism. The controller determines the length of the ticket by monitoring the distance the tickets advance between the detection of the perforations. In response to a ticket request, the controller advances the ticket strip a distance corresponding to the predetermined departure length of the ticket.

In U.S. Patent No. 4,982,337 to Burr et al. a system and method for distributing lottery tickets including a large number of remote ticket distributing units that are intermittently connected, for example, once a day or each week to a central computer, is presented. The units record the number of tickets sold and transmit the data of the sale to the central computer, which in turn carries out all the necessary accounting functions. Sales reports and billing data can be sent through the central computer to each unit for printing, which avoids the need to mail the reports / invoices. Tickets are stored in a fan-shaped form and are opened, instead of cut, for distribution. Tickets are distributed at one end of the unit that faces customers. A control panel for the vendor is placed at the opposite end. Tickets of different lengths can be distributed with an imprint of the seller's name.

In U.S. Patent No. 5,335,822 to K.Z. Kasper presents an apparatus to distribute tickets from a pile. The apparatus includes a base. A frame to hold the stack of tickets is mounted fixed to the base. A partition wall whose position can be changed to accommodate tickets of different sizes is removably mounted to the frame. A door to receive the tickets and that allows the passage of a single ticket at a time is also mounted fixed to the base. The door includes a sliding element that is adjusted to different heights by a screw that has two strings of different sizes to accommodate tickets of different thicknesses. A toothed blade is disposed below the frame and a mechanism including a rack-and-pinion gear driven by motor is coupled to the toothed blade to bring the toothed blade into contact with the bottommost trough in the stack, said toothed blade moving the so that the up to down ticket is transported from the stack inside the door, which brings the notched sheet out of contact with the ticket and then moves the serrated blade back to come into contact with the next ticket in the stack. A removable weight rests on the top of the stack to push the stack down against the serrated blade. A ticket holder is provided to assist in loading the tickets into the frame.

Other patents of interest include U.S. Patent No. 2,078,984 to S.W. Williamson; U.S. Patent Number 2,637,609 for P. Berg; and U.S. Patent No. 5,175,237 for R.G. Yang It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for distributing tickets, cards and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for distributing tickets, cards and similar items from a stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention to distribute items such as tickets, cards and similar items comprises a cabinet and a module for distributing items within said cabinet, said module for distributing articles comprises at least one assembly for distributing articles, each assembly for distributing articles includes a base, a frame for containing a plurality of items in a stack, one on top of another, a door for receiving items from the stack, and allow only one item at a time to pass through it and a transport mechanism to transport items from said frame to said door. The module for distributing items also includes a pair of vertical support platforms to support the base.

According to a characteristic of the invention, each frame in each assembly for distributing articles is hinged on one of the support platforms so that they can be moved from a vertical position where the articles contained therein are distributed to a non-retractable position. vertical where the items can be loaded inside them easily from above.

According to another feature of the invention, a locking mechanism is provided for each frame to secure so that the frame can be released in its upright position.

According to still another feature of the invention, a removable weight is provided to exert downward pressure on the pile, the weight includes a handle having side portions arranged so as to slide within a pair of grooves formed in the side walls of the container. frame when the weight rests on the frame above the stack to restrain laterally and posteriorly and frontally the movement of the weight within the frame.

According to still another feature of the invention, exit rollers are provided for pulling articles that are distributed from the doors.

According to another feature of the invention, the module for distributing articles is placed inside the cabinet facing the back so that the items that are distributed leave it inside the cabinet at the back and then fall on an angled tray in where they slide down to an opening in the front of the cabinet. This arrangement prevents damage to the exit mechanism by reaching the interior and pulling items out from the exit rollers or by interfering with the exit mechanism in an unauthorized manner to extract items.

According to still another feature of the invention, sensor assemblies are provided for each distribution assembly, one for sending a signal used in counting the dispatched items, one pair for sending signals to control the movement of the transport mechanism and one quarter to send a signal to indicate an empty condition in the frame. Each sensor assembly includes a flag and an optical sensor.

Several other features will appear from the description that follows. In the description, reference is made to the annexed drawing that forms part of the same and in which specific examples for practicing the invention are shown by way of illustration. These specimens will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and it should be understood that other specimens may be used and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description should not, therefore, be considered in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is better defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings where the similar reference numerals represent similar parts: Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention for distributing articles with a door in the open cabinet portion of the apparatus with one of the assemblies for distributing items in the module for distributing items within of the cabinet tilted forward for the purpose of loading items; Figure 2 a side sectional view of the apparatus in Figure 1, with the module for distributing articles illustrated in simplified form; Figure 3 is a perspective view taken from the front of the module for distributing items illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view taken from the front of the module for distributing items illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view taken from the front of the cabinet portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, with the door closed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view taken from the bottom and partially separated from the module for distributing items illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view partially broken away illustrating one of the frames in the module for distributing articles hingedly coupled to its related base and positioned vertically; Figure 8 is a fragmentary top view of the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, but with the frame inclined for loading purposes; Figure 10 is a top view of the two slidable elements, the toothed blade and the link in the transport mechanism associated with each assembly for distributing articles; Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of the Figure ; Figures 12 and 13 are top and side views, respectively of the toothed sheet illustrated in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional and side view showing the serrated base with the head of the serrated base in a horizontal position; Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional and side view showing the toothed blade with the head of the angled serrated blade to contact an article; Figure 16 is a fragmentary front view of the door in one of the assemblies for distributing articles; Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional and side view of one of the assemblies for distributing articles before the toothed sheet comes in contact with an article; Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional and side view of one of the assemblies for distributing articles after the toothed blade comes in contact with an article; Figure 19 is a perspective view of one of the partition walls illustrated in v 3; Figures 20 and 21 are front and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the weight illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along lines 22-22 in Figure 3; Figure 23 is a sectional view taken along lines 23-23 in Figure 3 without tickets in the frame; Y Figure 24 is a sectional view similar to Figure 23 but with items to be distributed in the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRE-EXAMPLES With reference now to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated for distributing items such as tickets and cards, the apparatus is identified by reference numeral 11 the portions of the apparatus 11 not pertinent to the invention are not shown.

The apparatus 11 includes a generally rectangular cabinet 13 having a rear wall 15, a lower wall 17, an upper wall 19, a front wall 21 having an opening 22 through which the articles are distributed, left and right side walls , respectively, and a shelf 27. The front wall 21 includes a door 28 that is hinged to provide access to the interior of the cabinet 13. The door 28 is normally held in a closed position by a latch 29. The shelf 27 has a size so that it does not extend back completely to the back wall 15 due to a reason that will be apparent later. A control panel 30 having controls (not shown) for choosing the item to be dispensed from the interior of the apparatus and providing an opening (not shown) through which money is inserted into the front wall 21.

A module for distributing articles 31 is disposed within the cabinet 13. The module for distributing articles 31 includes a plurality of assemblies for distributing articles 33 that are identical in construction, the illustrated number serves illustrative purposes only and a pair of supporting platforms verticals 32-1 and 32-2.

Each article distribution assembly includes a generally rectangular base 35 having a front end 37, a rear end 39 and a recess 41 having a longitudinal opening 43. The bases 35 are securely fixed by monthly 45 to support the platforms 32- 1 and 32-2 which in turn are fixedly fixed by means of monthly and bolts (not illustrated) to the shelf 27.

Each assembly for distributing articles 33 also includes an elongated frame 49 for containing a plurality of articles A to be distributed in stack S, one on the other. The items A can be, for example, lottery tickets of the type with tab or plastic telephone credit cards or the like. The frame 49 is generally rectangular in cross section and includes a front wall 51, left and right side walls 53 and 55, respectively, and a rear wall 57 which is open in the middle.

The frame 49 is fixedly mounted on a bracket assembly 59 that is rotatably coupled to the bracket 32-1 by a hinge 61. The rotatable engagement of the frame 49 with the bracket 32-1 allows the frame 49 to rotate forward from a vertical position, which is the desired position in which it is to distribute items A, to an angled position where the items A to be dispensed can easily be loaded within frame 49 from above by a person standing in front of the cabinet 13. An insurance mechanism 63 it is provided to secure so that the frame 49 can be released in its place in a vertical position. The lock mechanism 63 includes a U-shaped post 65 slidably mounted on the bracket assembly 59 and having an end 60 adapted to slide within the recess 66 in the back of a platform 67 coupled to the base 35. A spring 68 is provided to urge the post 65 in a backward direction toward the recesses 66.

Each article distribution assembly 33 further includes a transport mechanism 69 and a door 71. The transport mechanism 69 is positioned below the frame 49 and a door 71 is positioned behind the frame 49. The purpose of the transport mechanism 69 is to transport the transport mechanisms 69. articles A from the stack S inside the door 71. The purpose of the door 71 is to receive the articles A transported from the frame 49 and allow only one article to pass through itself at a time.

The transport mechanism 69 includes a serrated blade 73 made of tool steel, the blade 73 is a unitary structure and includes a head portion 75 and a post portion 77. The head portion 75 includes an upper surface 79 and a leading edge that has teeth. The angle between the adjacent teeth is preferably approximately 30 degrees. This angle allows the teeth to easily and securely hold items 81 of plastic as well as cardboard. The pole portion 77 is bifurcated at its lower end 83. The blade 73 is mounted for rotational movement on a first sliding element 85 by a rotating needle 87 extending through a recess formed in the slide member 85 and a recess formed in the post 77 of the serrated blade 73. The first slide member 85 is generally rectangularly formed and is mounted for sliding movement back and forth in the recess 44 of the horizontal base platform 36.

The toothed blade 73 is coupled to a second slidable member 91 by an elongated link 93. The second slidable member 91 includes an upper member 95 and a lower member 97 that are fixedly secured to each by bolts (not shown). One end 101 of the link 93 is pivotally coupled to the second slide member 91 by a rotary needle 103. The other end 105 of the link 98 is rotatably coupled to the bottom 107 of the pole portion 77 of the toothed blade 73 by a rotating needle 107. The second slide member 91 is slidably mounted in the recess 41 of the base platform 36 behind the first slide member 85 with the piece 95 resting in the recess 41 and the piece 97 disposed below the base 35. With the two sliders separated the upper surface 79 of the head 75 is horizontal. The movement of the second slidable member 91 in the recess 41 in a backward direction towards the first slidable member 85 will result in a downward rotary movement of the link 93. This in turn will produce upward rotary movement of the head portion 75 of the toothed blade 73 in the first slide element 85. At this time, the upper surface 79 is rotated about 10 degrees from the horizontal. When the second slider 91 moves in a forward direction the portion of the head 75 will rotate back to a horizontal position. The first and second sliding elements 85 and 91, respectively, are made of a rigid plastic material, such as Delrin.

The second slide member 91 is moved back and forth in the recess 41 by a combination of gear 109 and rack 111. The gear 109 is pressed tightly into a longitudinal recess formed in the side 113 of the second slide member 91. The rack 111 it is driven by a vertically disposed reversible motor 115 which is fixedly mounted to the base 35 by means of a bracket 117. The bracket 117 is fixed to the base 35 by bolts. As can be seen, by having the zipper 111 on the side of the element 91 and the motor 115 extending vertically downwards, the motor 115 does not extend laterally further outside the base 35. As a result, the adjacent assemblies 33 can be arranged closely to each one instead of having to be spaced from each other due to the engines 115.

The door 75 includes a support 119 and a sliding element 121. The sliding member 121 is slidably mounted for up and down movement on the platform 67, the space between the bottom of the slide 121 and the base platform 36 serves as a opening through which an article A can pass. The height of the opening is controlled by raising or lowering the slider 121. The slider 121 is fixed at a desired height by a screw 123 which extends through an oval-shaped recess 125 in the slider 121 within a string opening ( not illustrated) on platform 67.

Each article distribution assembly 33 further includes a U-shaped partition wall 127 and a removable weight 129. The partition wall 127 is used to change the area within the frame 49 to tightly hold articles A of different sizes without having You disassemble the frame 49 and replace it with a different size frame. The dividing wall 127 is mounted on the frame 49 by bolts 131 which fit into marked holes 133 and 135 on the side walls of the frame 49 and are secured in place with nuts 137. The removable weight 129 is used to push the stack S and move it by frictional coupling. The weight 129 comprises a block 139 of heavy material. A handle 141 is provided to hold the block 139. The handle 139 is formed to include a pair of side portions 143 and 145 that are formed to slide within a pair of grooves 147 and 149 on the sides of the frame 49. The foregoing limits the movement of the weight 129 in the frame 49 directly on the transport mechanism 69 regardless of the position of the wall 127 within the frame 49.

The module for distributing articles 31 also includes two sets of exit rollers 151 and 152 for pulling the articles A distributed outside by the doors 75. The rollers 151 and 152 are disposed behind the doors 75. The rollers 152 are mounted on an arrow 153 which is coupled by means of a belt 155 to a transmission engine 157.

The module for distributing articles 31 also includes two printed circuit boards 159 and 161 for handling the electronic module. The card 159 is mounted on a bracket 162 coupled to the base 35. The card 161 is mounted on the base 35.

Each article distribution assembly 33 also includes a first sensor assembly for sending a signal each time an article passes through the door, second and third sensor assemblies for sending signals to control the movement of the motor coupled to the gear and rack and a fourth sensor assembly to send a signal when there are no items in the frame. The first sensor assembly includes a flag 163 rotatably mounted on the arrow 154 and an optical sensor 165 on the platform 159 fixed to the support 169. The second sensor assembly includes a flag 167 on the second slide and an optical sensor 169. The third The sensor assembly includes a flag 171 and an optical sensor 173. The fourth optical sensor assembly includes a flag 175 and an optical sensor 177.

Block 139 on weight 129 has a pair of recesses 179 positioned so that when there are no articles A in frame 49, weight 129 does not press down on flag 175.

The apparatus 11 also includes an angled tray 178 below the shelf and a computer C for controlling the total operation of the apparatus. The computer C is coupled to the cards 159 and 161 by cables (not shown).

In the operation of the apparatus 11, the articles A to be distributed are first loaded into the frames 49. The articles in each frame 49 need not be of the same type of article. The articles move from the frames 49 to their respective doors 71 by means of their respective transport mechanisms 69, by instructions of the computer, then issued by the doors 61 by the exit rollers 151 when these pull back the tray 27 inside the tray 173 and then slide forward on the tray toward opening 22 at the front of cabinet 13 where they are picked up by the buyer.

Since doors 71 and rollers 151 and 152 are located within the cabinet at the rear, misuse of the exit mechanism, i.e. doors 71 and front rollers 151, is avoided.

The illustrated example of the present invention is intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and modifications thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All of these variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for distributing items such as tickets, cards and similar items that includes: a. a cabinet that has a front and a back, b. a module for distributing articles within said cabinet, said module for distributing articles includes at least one assembly for distributing articles and a support platform, each assembly for distributing articles comprises: i. a base, ii. a frame for containing a plurality of items to be distributed in a stack, iii. a hinge for hingedly mounting said frame on said support platform for movement from a vertical position to a non-vertical position, iv. a door to receive articles from that frame and that allows only one article at a time to pass and v. a transport mechanism for transporting articles from said frame to said door.
2. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein each assembly for distributing articles further includes a lock mechanism to secure the frame in the upright position.
3. 3. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein each article-dispensing assembly further includes a removable weight to press down on the article stack, said weight and said frame being constructed such that the weight will not move laterally or backward and forward inside the frame.
4. 4. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said transport mechanism is below said frame.
5. 5. The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein said transport mechanism includes a toothed blade, a gear and rack, a reversible motor, a first sliding element slidably mounted on said base and a second sliding element slidably mounted on said base. Said toothed sheet is mounted rotatably on said first sliding element, said gear is fixedly mounted on said second sliding element, said toothed leaf is rotatably coupled to said second sliding element by means of a joint and said reversible motor is fixedly mounted on said base .
6. 6. The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein each assembly for distributing articles also includes an adjustable partition wall removably mounted on its frame to adjust the interior area of the frame to tightly accommodate articles of different sizes.
7. 7. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said door is behind said frame.
8. 8. The apparatus of Claim 7, further including exit rollers for pulling the articles out of said doors.
9. 9. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein said exit rollers are behind said doors.
10. 10. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said cabinet has an opening in the front and the apparatus further includes an angled tray for receiving articles that are pulled out by the exit rollers and directing said articles to said opening in the front of the cabinet. ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for distributing items such as tickets and cards includes a cabinet (13) and a plurality of assemblies for distributing articles (33) included in the cabinet. Each assembly for distributing articles includes a base (35) and a frame (49) for containing articles to be distributed in a stack. These bases are mounted on a pair of vertical support platforms (32-1, 32-2). Each frame is hinged on one of the support platforms for movement between a dispensing position and a loading position. A removable partition wall (127) is disposed within the frame whose position in the frame can be changed to accommodate articles of different sizes. A door (71) behind the frame receives articles from the frame and allows only one article at a time to pass through, a toothed sheet (73) is disposed below the frame (49); a motor (115) by means of a gear (109) and a rack (111) Bring the serrated blade (73) in contact with the lowest item in the stack. A removable weight (129) resting on the top of the stack pushes the stack down against the toothed blade (73) the first sensor assembly sends a signal each time an article passes through the door. The second and third sensor assemblies send signals to control the movement of the motor (115). A fourth sensor assembly sends a signal when there are no items in the frame. A plurality of output rollers (151, 152) are placed behind the doors to pull the tickets out of the doors of the respective assemblies to distribute (33). An angled tray (178) receives articles coming out of the output rollers (151, 152) and directs the articles forward to an opening (22) in the front of the cabinet to remove them.